System of electrical distribution and switch therefor



Jan. 17, 19280 L656 SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION AND SWITCH THEREFOR W. HEMINGWAY, JR

Flled D es 20. 1922 19.1

S Sheets-Sheet l "l'i'i illiiiiiiiiilllliil 1 l .llllI/6/ Jan: 17, 1928. 1,656,560

w. HEMINGWAY, JR

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION AND SWITCH THEREFOR Filed Dec. 20, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet, 2.

W) Hem 11911 5, (in

I No: nu,

I Jan. 17, 1928.

W. HEMINGWAY, JR SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION AND SWITCH THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed D60. 20, 1922 Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,656,560 PATENT OFFICE.

WILSON HEMINGWAY, JIL, OF VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRO- LOCK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI, A. CORPORATION OF MISSISSIPPI.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION AND SWITCH THEREFOR.

Application filed December 20, 1922.

This invention relates to systems of electrical distribution such as now employed 1n automobiles, motor boats, and the like, and

the particular object of the invention is to provide a switch which is an improvement over the one disclosed in my copending ap plication filed June 6th, 1922, Ser. No. 566,429.

An important aim of the present invention is to provide a switch which is of coni paratively simple and inexpensive construction and. has the various parts thereof so formed and co-related as to reduce to a minimum the size of the completed switch.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a switch, particularly adapted for automobile use and having means'for instantly shutting off the flow of current from the battery and the magneto and for simultaneously disrupting the ignition system to prevent the latter being supplied with current from the generator.

Other purposes and advantages of the invention not specifically stated above, will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is aperspective view of my im proved switch.

switch,:the lock barrel being shown. in elevation.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4c but indicating a different position of the parts disclosed.

Figure 6 is a view similar to' Figure 2, but taken at right angles thereto.

Figures 7 and 8 are fragmentary detail views.

\ Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which my improved switch is embodied in a system of electrical distribution, such as now is commonly employed on automobiles, motor boats and the like.

In constructing my improved switch a sectional base of insulating material is provided, including a. lower section 5 and an upper section 6. The two sections are preferably held. together by removable screw bolts 7, although it is obvious that other Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the Serial No. 608,055.

fastening means may besubstituted if desired. At its upper edge the section 6 is cut away to provide a shoulder 8 on which is supported an annular casing'9 having an inwardly directed flange 10 at the upper edge. This flange provides a support for a rotatable cover member 11 to theinside of which is secured a retaining ring 12 which projects beneath the flange 10 and serves to hold the cover against separation from the casing 9 while permitting rotary movement of the cover in a horizontal plane. In order to limit movement of the cover in either direction it is preferred to form the cover with a projection 13, movable in a recess 14 formed in theflange 10, the end walls of said recess affording stops 15 and 16 engageable with said projection.

The cover 11 is also provided with a central opening in which is keyed the upper end of a lock barrel 17. The lower end of this barrel is rotatably supported in a suitable bushing 18 carried by the section 6 and a lock mechanism carried within the barrel preferably includes a bolt 19 adapted to enter a recess or socket 20 in the base when the cover is rotated to a predetermined position.

Numerals 21 and 22 designate a pair of contact brushes which are electrically con nected together through the medium of a bar 23 formed of a suitable conducting material. This bar is connected to the underside of the cover through the medium of suitable screws 24 as shown in Figure The said contact brushes 21 and 22 and the contact 32 being connected by a suitable lead 36 to the contact 30 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth, These contacts have their upper ends disposed flush with or in the plane of the upper surface of thesection 6, and are equipped at their lower ends with suitable terminal fasteners or set screws 37 As shown to advantage in Figures 2 and 6 these set screws are disposed in recesses 38 having terminal passages 39 communicating therewith, said recesses and passages being formed by cutting away the contacting faces of the sections 5 and 6.

In the use of my improved switch, the sameis preferably embodied in a system of electrical distribution as dzsclosed in Figure 9.

In this figure, 40 represents a storage bat tery having one terminal connected by a heavy lead '41 to the switch contact 31. The other terminal of thebattery is connected by a lead 42 to a stationary contact 43 of the starter switch 44, the remaining stationary contact 45 of the starter switch being connected to the insulated terminal of the starter 46. The first-mentioned contact 43 of the starter switch is connected to one of the stationary contacts 47 of an ammeter 48, the remaining stationary contact of the latter being connected by a lead 49 to one of the stationary contacts 50 of the ignition switch 51. The remaining stationary contact of the said switch 51 is connected by a lead 52 to the insulated terminal of the magneto 53. The lead 52 is also connected by a tap 54 to the contact 33 of my improved switch. The movable contact 55 of the ignition switch 51 is connected to the contact 35 of my improved switch, while the contact 34 of the latter is connected to a terminal of the ignition coil 56. The light switch designated by the numeral 57 has the movable terminal 58 thereof connected to the lead 49. The stationary terminals 59 and 60 of the light switch are connected respectively by leads 61 and 62 to the insulated terminals of the head light 63 and dimmers 64. The remaining terminals of the head light lamps are grounded as indicated, while the corresponding terminals of the dimmer lamps are connected to the contact 31 so that the dimmer lamp circuit will remain unafiected by the opening and closing of my improved switch. The generator, designated by the numeral 65, has the insulated terminal thereof connected by a lead 66 to that terminal of the ammeter 48 to which the lead 49 is connected.

Normally, the contacts 21 and 22 of my improved switch are disposed to engage the contacts 30 and 31, while the spring contacts 26 and 27 are disposed to engage and connect the contacts 34 and 35. In this position of the improved switch it will be apparent that one terminal of the battery is grounded t0. the starter, head light lamps and ignition system through the medium of the lead 41 v and a further lead 67 connected to the switch understood that the contact fingers 26 and 27 v are simultaneously moved out of engagement with the contacts 34 and 35 as shown to advantage in Figure 5. In this position of. the

switch it will be apparent that no current can flow from the battery 40 because of the disruption of the battery ground connection as effected 'by the separation of the contacts .21 and 22 from the contacts 30 and 31. Likewise, no current can be delivered from the'magneto 53 by reason of the fact that in the open position of the switch, the contact 21 bridges the contacts 32 and 33 as shown to advantage in Figure 5 so that the insulated terminal of the magneto is grounded through the leads 54, 36 and 67.

When the system of electrical distribution disclosed is used on an automobile, the breaking of the ignition circuit by the separation of the spring contact fingers 26 and 27 fromthe contacts 34 and 35 is of particular ad vantage as it prevents possibility of starting the car by pushing it and thereby turning themotor until sufiicient speed is attained forthe generator to furnish current for ignition purposes.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when my improved switch is moved to open position no current will be permitted to flow from the battery or the magneto to the various electrical circuits and devices normally supplied thereby. lVhile this switch construction is primarily provided for the purpose of instantly shutting 0d the fiow of current upon the development of ground or short circuits, it will also be apparent that, by locking the switch in the off position through the medium of the locking bolt 19 and recess 20, unauthorized use of the apparatus to which the system is applied is effectually prevented.

Having described in the foregoil'lg, what I now consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I may resort to such changes in the construction and arrangement of parts as may be desired, providing, of course, that the contemplated changes do not depart from the one terminal of said circuit and one terminal of the battery, the other terminal of the circuit being grounded, a magneto affording an alternate source of current supply for said circuit and having one terminal grounded thereto, a switch having a main stationary contact connected to the remaining terminal of the battery, a second main stationary contact grounded, an auxiliary stationary contact connected to the grounded switch contact, a second auxiliary stationary contact lead connected to the insulated terminal of the magneto and a pair of main movable contacts engageable and disengageable with said main stationary contacts to establish or disrupt a grounded connection to the battery, one of said main movable contacts being arranged to bridge said auxiliary contacts when moved out of engagement with its cooperating main oontac 2. A system of electrical distribution comprising a battery, a main stationary contact lead connected to one terminal of the battery, a second main stationary contact connected to ground, a pair of auxiliary stationary contacts, means for establishing a lead connection between the remaining terminal of the battery and one of said auxiliary contacts, a circuit having one terminal grounded, means for establishing a lead connection between the remaining auxiliary contact and the insulated terminal of the said circuit, a pair of main movable contacts coacting with said main stationary contacts, auxiliary movable contact means for bridging the stationary auxiliary contacts, and actuating means for causing the main and auxiliary movable contacts to move as a unit to simultaneously open or close the gaps between the stationary contacts of the main and auxiliary sets.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

WILSON HEMINGVVAY, JR, 

